
Del. Don Scott poses with a Democratic supporter at a rally in Dumfries, Va. on Oct. 27, 2024 (Michael O'Connor/The Dogwood)
“This is not about politics—it’s about protecting Virginia’s workforce, economy, and essential services,” Virginia House Speaker Don Scott said.
A bipartisan group of Virginia lawmakers will look into the impacts of the Trump Administration’s drastic and legally questionable shrinking of federal services and its workforce.
Virginia House Speaker Don Scott announced yesterday the formation of an Emergency Committee on the Impacts of Federal Workforce and Funding Reductions. The committee is tasked with assessing the economic impacts of federal funding and workforce cuts.
“The federal administration’s announced plans to ‘drain’ the federal workforce and the pause in federal funding raise serious concerns for Virginia’s economy and the ability to maintain essential services,” Scott said in a statement. “This committee will evaluate the impact of these cuts and develop solutions to safeguard Virginia’s economic future.”
Scott formed the committee in response to the chaos and confusion caused by the Trump Administration’s moves to end important services provided by the federal government. Last week, a memo from the Office of Management and Budget instructed federal agencies to freeze all federal grants and other payments, which impacted vital services like Medicaid. The memo was later rescinded after a court challenge.
Watch: Virginia Senate Majority Leader Blasts Federal Funding Freeze
View this post on Instagram
This week, Elon Musk moved to shut down the US Agency for International Development as part of his work leading the Trump-created Department of Government Efficiency. Trump’s goal to dismantle vast swathes of the federal government was well understood before he was elected.
While Republicans have largely stood silent, Democrats have rallied in Washington in protest of the Trump administration’s deluge of attacks on the federal government. In Richmond, Speaker Scott has long been a critic of what he calls the Trump-Musk administration and Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s support for Trump. Youngkin planned to be at the White House today in support of Trump’s anti-trans agenda.
View this post on Instagram
“This is not about politics—it’s about protecting Virginia’s workforce, economy, and essential services,” Scott said. “With nearly 145,000 federal civilian employees and even more federal contractors calling Virginia home, we depend on a strong partnership with the federal government to provide critical services.”
The American Federation of Government Employees, a large union representing federal workers including in Virginia, intends to enforce its collective bargaining agreements and challenge the Trump Administration when it breaks the law, said the union’s public policy director Jacqueline Simon. Simon said many federal workers are fired up and angry over the Trump Administration, which wants to politicize the work they do, end telework, and is pushing many to resign.
“They’re basically angry and they’re insulted, and they really don’t feel like they want to let Elon Musk bully them,” Simon said in an interview with The Dogwood. “They are ready to defend themselves”
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Virginians and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at Dogwood has always been to empower people across the commonwealth with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Virginia families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.


Here’s who Trump has nominated to his administration so far
Trump has announced that Susie Wiles will serve as his chief of staff, has nominated Marco Rubio as his secretary of state, and has chosen Kristi...

Gerry Connolly, Northern Virginia congressman, has cancer
The long-time Democrat announced the news today after winning reelection this week. Gerry Connolly, the Democrat representing Virginia's 11th...

Want to follow election results like a pro? Here’s what to watch in key states.
By LEAH ASKARINAM Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Election night in the United States is a bit like a jigsaw puzzle, except that only one piece...

‘MAHA’: What to know about the ‘movement’ gaslighting health and wellness followers in the US
The MAHA movement appears on social media to be a real campaign for a healthier country. But can you believe the hype? We’ve unpacked Donald Trump’s...

Opinion: Be a child care voter this year
Moms know that child care is a life-shaping issue for their own families. Many are at risk of being forced onto public assistance if they can't find...

We transcribed all 12 minutes of Trump’s rambling about Arnold Palmer and his genitalia
During a weekend appearance in Pennsylvania, the 78-year-old Republican presidential nominee spent 12 minutes rambling about golfer Arnold Palmer —...